Expandable base

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an extendable shelf assembly. The extendable shelf assembly includes a first shelf. The extendable shelf assembly further includes a second shelf connected to the first shelf via a folding link assembly. The second shelf is located in a first position on a plane above the first shelf, and the second shelf moves to a second position via the folding link assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/504,047 filed on May 10, 2017. U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/504,047 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Conventional retail shelves include a rectangular shelf having at the rear of each side brackets for connecting the shelf to a pair of spaced-apart slotted upright supports. The conventional shelf used in retail stores has a fixed depth. However, during busy seasons, more products are typically stocked on a shelf and more shelf room is required. Typically additional shelves were bought for this purpose, but as these shelves are constantly being assembled and disassembled, parts get lost and the shelves do not get stored correctly, which leads to damaged shelves. An adjustable depth shelf that can be extended and retracted for use as a large depth shelf and a regular depth shelf is desired.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to An extendable shelf assembly comprising a first shelf; and a second shelf connected to the first shelf via a folding link assembly, where the second shelf is located in a first position on a plane above the first shelf; and where the second shelf moves to a second position via the folding link assembly.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extendable shelf assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the extendable shelf assembly in a fully extended condition;

FIG. 3A is a cut-away perspective view of the extendable shelf assembly;

FIG. 3B is a cut-away perspective view of the extendable shelf assembly in a fully extended position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the folding links of the extendable shelf assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a method for manufacturing an extendable shelf assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an element (i.e., any noun in the application). The use of ordinal numbers is not to imply or create any particular ordering of the elements nor to limit any element to being only a single element unless expressly disclosed, such as by the use of the terms “before”, “after”, “single”, and other such terminology. Rather, the use of ordinal numbers is to distinguish between the elements. By way of an example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and the first element may encompass more than one element and succeed (or precede) the second element in an ordering of elements.

In general, embodiments of the invention are directed to an adjustable shelving system that provides more storage space. In one or more embodiments, the shelving system has a first depth, however, the shelving system may be adjusted to provide a second depth deeper than the first depth.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows perspective diagram of the extendable shelf assembly (10) in a first position. The extendable shelf assembly (10) includes a first shelf (11) and a second shelf (15). The first shelf (11) and the second shelf (15) are connected via a folding link assembly (19). The extendable shelf assembly (10) also includes brackets (23) located on the first shelf (11). Each of these components is described below.

The first shelf (11) may be of rectangular design with a fixed depth and width. In one or more embodiments, the first shelf (11) may be made of stainless steel, steel, plastic, wood, a polymer material, or any other type of material. For example, the first shelf (11) may be made of steel to provide capability to handle a heavy load placed on the shelf. In one or more embodiments, the material of the shelf is determined by the load to be placed on the shelf. In one or more embodiments, the first shelf (11) may contain a hanging slot that runs the length of one side of the first shelf (11). The hanging slot may extend vertically in a direction opposite the loading surface of the first shelf (11).

In one or more embodiments, the first shelf (11) may be mounted on a wall via the brackets (23). In one or more embodiments, the brackets (11) are attached to the shelf via a fastening device (e.g., screw, nut and bolt, fastening pin, etc.). In one or more embodiments, the brackets (23) are attached to first shelf (23) on two sides that are opposite to each other. The bracket (23) may run the length of one side of the first shelf (11). The bracket (23) may extend past the length from one side of the first shelf (11). For example, the brackets (11) may extend past the length of the first shelf (11) to allow the first shelf to be mounted on a support structure. In one or more embodiments, the brackets (23) may be made of stainless steel, steel, carbon steel, or any other type of material. For example, the brackets (23) may be made of steel and attached to the first shelf (11) via a nut and bolt. Additionally, the brackets (23) run the full length of two sides of the first shelf (11) with the two sides being opposite and parallel with respect to one another.

In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) is attached to the brackets (23). The folding link assembly (19) may include two links designed to connect one bracket (23) to another bracket. In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) may include any number of links including one link. The folding link assembly (19) may be made of stainless steel, steel, carbon steel, or any other type of material. In one or more embodiments, the material for the folding link assembly (19) is determined by the load of the extendable shelf assembly (10). More detail about the folding link assembly (19) may be found below and in FIG. 4.

In one or more embodiments, the extendable shelf assembly (10) contains a second shelf (15). The second shelf (15) may have similar dimensions of width and depth as the first shelf (11). In one or more embodiments, the second shelf (15) has a greater width and depth than the first shelf (11). For example, the second shelf (15) may be wider and deeper than the first shelf (11) to allow the second shelf (15) to lay atop the first shelf (11) in a first position on a plane above the first shelf (11). The second shelf (15) may be made of a similar material as the first shelf (11), or may be made of a different material. In one or more embodiments, the second shelf (15) may be made of a material suitable for the load to be placed on the extendable shelf assembly (10). In one or more embodiments, the second shelf (15) has a lip (25) that extends from one side of the second shelf and the two adjacent sides of the second shelf. In one or more embodiments, the second shelf (15) has an support lip (not shown) on the fourth side of the shelf that does not contain the lip (25).

FIG. 2 shows a perspective diagram of the extendable shelf assembly (10) in a second position. The extendable shelf assembly (10) in the second position includes a first shelf (11) and a second shelf (15) connected together via a folding link assembly (19). Each of these components are described below.

The extendable shelf assembly (10), when folded into the second position, includes a first shelf (11) similar to the first shelf described in FIG. 1. In one or more embodiments, the first shelf (11) remains in a similar position as FIG. 1. (i.e., the first position of the first shelf is the same as the second position of the first shelf).

In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) rotates at an angle on a plane perpendicular to the plane of the first shelf (11). For example, the initial angle for the folding link assembly (19) may be 0° for the first position. The folding link assembly (19) may rotate 180° to enter a second position. The first shelf (11) remains in the same position, however the folding link assembly (19), while connected to the first shelf (11), is able to rotate freely to a pre-determined angle.

In one or more embodiments, the second shelf (15) moves into a second position based on the angle of rotation from the folding link assembly (19). The second shelf (15) may move into a second position that is flush to the first shelf (11) and on the same plane as the first shelf (11). In one or more embodiments, the second shelf reaches the second position when the folding link assembly (19) rotates at an angle of 180° from the first position of the folding link assembly (19).

FIGS. 3A and 3B shows a cut-away perspective view the extendable shelf assembly (10) in a first position and a second position. The extendable shelf assembly includes a first shelf (11) and a second shelf (15), a folding link assembly (19), an support lip (17), and a hanging slot (13). Each of these components are described below.

As discussed in FIG. 1, the first shelf (11) and second shelf (15) are connected together via a folding link assembly (19). The folding link assembly (19) allows the second shelf (15) to pivot from a first position to a second position. The first shelf (11) includes a hanging slot (13). In one or more embodiments, the hanging slot (13) runs the length of the first shelf (11) on one side. In one or more embodiments, the hanging slot (13) includes a U-bracket that runs the length of the first shelf (11). In one or more embodiments, the hanging slot (13) extends below the loading surface of the first shelf (11). The hanging slot (13) may be made of stainless steel, steel, plastic, a polymer material, or any other type of material.

In one or more embodiments, the second shelf (15) includes an support lip (17) that runs the length of one side of the second shelf (15). The side including the support lip (17) may be determined by the side adjacent to the hanging slot (13) when the second shelf (15) is in the second position. In one or more embodiments, the support lip (17) connects the second shelf (15) to the first shelf (11) when the second shelf pivots to the second position. In one or more embodiments, the support lip (17) extends below the loading surface of the second shelf (15). The support lip (17) may be made of stainless steel, steel, plastic, a polymer material, or any other type of material.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a folding link assembly (19) in accordance with one or more embodiments. The folding link assembly (19) includes inks (21), which are connected to brackets (23) via fasteners. Each of these components are described below.

In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) includes two links (21). In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) includes one link (21) or more than two links. The links may be any length and may contain a drilled hole of any diameter. In one or more embodiments, the links (21) may include two semi-circles at each end of the link (21) to allow for the links (21) to pivot around the pivot points. In one or more embodiments, the links may include any type of shape at the end points of the links to allow for the links to pivot around the pivot points in a manner that will allow for little interference on the extendable shelf assembly. In one or more embodiments, the links (21) may include two semi-circles at each end of the link (21). The links (21) may be made of stainless steel, steel, plastic, a polymer material, or any other type of material. For example, the folding link assembly (19) may consist of two links (21) made out of stainless steel with a semi-circle at each end. Each semi-circle may contain a hole drilled into the link (21) to act as a pivot point.

In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) includes brackets (23). The brackets (23) may be of any length, and the length may be determined by the support load of the extendable shelf assembly. In one or more embodiments, the folding link assembly (19) may include two brackets (23). For example, one bracket (23) may be fastened to a first shelf (not shown) and a second bracket (23) may be fastened to a second shelf (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the brackets (23) may contain drilled holes. The drilled holes may allow for the brackets (23) to receive a fastener, which would connect the brackets (23) to the links (21). In one or more embodiments, the brackets (23) may contain drilled holes to allow the brackets to be fastened to a shelf (not shown). For example, the bracket (23) may have 4 drilled holes. Two drilled holes allow the bracket to be fastened to a shelf (not shown), and two drilled holes may allow the bracket (23) to be connected to a link (21). In one or more embodiments, the connected bracket (23) and link (21) act as a pivot point on the folding link assembly (19). The brackets (23) may be made of stainless steel, steel, plastic, a polymer material, or any other type of material.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An extendable shelf assembly comprising: a first shelf; and a second shelf connected to the first shelf via a folding link assembly, wherein the second shelf is located in a first position on a plane above the first shelf; and wherein the second shelf moves to a second position via the folding link assembly.
 2. The extendable shelf assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second shelf is located in the second position on an equivalent plane of the first shelf.
 3. The extendable shelf assembly according to claim 1 comprising: brackets at a side of the first shelf, wherein the brackets mount into a fixed support; and a hanging slot running along the side of the first shelf opposite the brackets.
 4. The extendable shelf assembly according to claim 3 comprising: an support lip on the second shelf, wherein the support lip slots into the hanging slot of the first shelf.
 5. The extendable shelf assembly according to claim 3 comprising: a first side, perpendicular to the brackets and the hanging slot, on the first shelf consisting of the folding link assembly; a second side, perpendicular to the brackets and the hanging slot and opposite the first side, on the first shelf consisting of the folding link assembly; a third side, perpendicular to the support lip, on the second shelf consisting of the folding link assembly; and a fourth side, perpendicular to the support lip and opposite the fourth side, consisting of the folding link assembly.
 6. The extendable shelf assembly according to claim 1 comprising: a first link in the folding link assembly connected to a first bracket and second bracket via fasteners; and a second link in the folding link assembly, connected to the first bracket and the second bracket via the fasteners.
 7. The extendable shelf assembly according to claim 1, wherein the folding link assembly rotates between the first position and the second position around a pivot point. 